Street Life Series
All of my sale proceeds of this series are donated to charity
I am interested in the human experience. On a daily basis I am presented with what the ‘ideal’ life should be, a standard of living to aspire to and supposedly a reflection of the lives of others. But what are the lives of others actually like?
I paint people I see within their everyday lives, living on the streets of our cities. People with very different lives to that of my own and those we often try to ignore. I see these people as important reflections of our culture.
In many ways, those living on the streets know the true identity of our cities. Maybe there is much we can learn about our culture from those who live on the streets we walk along.
The Gentleman
2022
Oil & charcoal on canvass (122cm x 102cm)
This is where it all began and the last painting of my series contemplating the lives of those living on the streets.
A decade ago, I waited at a bus stop and noticed a man asking people for money, slowly making his way to me. He was a little younger than I was but he looked quite unhealthy. I felt nervous around 'homeless people', nervous of the unknown.
He eventually asked me for money and I gave him some.
He was sincerely thankful and he asked to shake my hand.
I shook his hand and he said to me "you are a true gentleman".
I felt like a fraud, I had never been called a gentleman before and probably haven't received that compliment since.
I wasn't the gentleman, he was the gentleman.
I no longer saw people as 'homeless people', but as 'people', just like me, who live on the street. You never know what someone has been through.
Don't give with the expectation of receiving something in return, but when you do give to someone less fortunate, you may be pleasantly surprised.
Blacktown Art Prize Finalist
Lonely Man
donated to Vinnies (St Vincent de Paul)
2022
Oil & charcoal on canvass (122cm x 102cm)
He watched passers by with hope while waiting for donations.
He was sitting in the shadows. I felt hesitation from him to engage with others. Maybe he was scared of ridicule and judgement.
He looked lonely.
Our Street Culture ●
2022
Oil & charcoal on canvass (101cm x 91.5cm)
One Friday evening I noticed a man sitting on the hard, cold pavement with his friends while enjoying a drink. They seemed to be happy, enjoying each other's company.
When you don't have much, maybe there is less distraction from being present.
Present Yet Invisible ●
2022
Oil & charcoal on canvass (122cm x 102cm)
People blend into their surroundings.
Or maybe we sometimes just ignore the confronting reality.
Ignore, no eye contact, do not engage.
We don't say hi to strangers if we suspect they may ask for a few dollars. I have been guilty of this.
What is a few dollars to me, I live in a house.
It feels good to give, even just a small gesture.
Maybe even say "good morning" while dropping some dollars into a cup. I may receive a smile.
: )
Between Two Realities ●
2022
Oil & charcoal on canvass (122cm x 102cm)
I was walking to work. I heard this man talking to himself. Over the years this has become nothing out of the ordinary to me.
Then he said "hello" to me, I was surprised that he was aware of me. We talked briefly. He had a distant look in his eyes, half with me and half in another world.
Then we said "goodbye".
I walked off to work. He blankly stared ahead of himself.
He was nice. We all need human contact.
Simple Pleasures ●
2022
Oil & charcoal on canvass 122cm x 102cm)
Tucked away from the busy footpath. The ritual of taking time to roll a cigarette to share with a friend.
Simple pleasures.
She Was Honest and Real
2022
Oil & charcoal on canvass (102cm x 91.5cm)
I met her one cold night. She was alone and sitting on the footpath hoping for donations. I gave her a donation and spoke to her for a while.
Someone else walked past and gave her twenty cents and proceeded to act as if they were a good samaritan. I felt her embarrassment. Is that all her life was worth?
I don't remember her name anymore.
She was honest and real.
Oil on canvass.
Loreto First Prize
Sweethearts of the Streets ●
2022
Oil & charcoal on canvass (112cm x 91.5cm)
We often ignore them and pretend they don't exist.
But if we pay attention we will notice that they have their own community.
They don't discuss what they watched on television last night in the comfort of their house.
They have more important things to think about... like getting food.
In their 'street' culture, maybe this couple were very loyal and lucky to have each other.
It reminds me of what in life is unimportant.
In Our Shadows
2022
Oil & charcoal on canvass (112cmx91.5cm)
One night I walked past a woman on a busy footpath. She looked like she was in her twenties.
She was looking up to people, in their shadows, asking for change.
She was anxious, maybe craving something.
Again and again she asked.
I walked past and casually gave her more than a few dollars and I continued walking.
A moment later I stopped and thought, “I should talk to her and acknowledge her.”
I walked back, maybe thirty seconds later.
……. she was gone.
She was way too young for that sort of life.
Tender In Turmoil
2022
Oil & charcoal on canvass (91.5cm x 122cm)
One evening I saw this man walking along the street. He was under the influence of something, I could hear it in his speech. He was unsettled.
He sat down on the footpath with a cup for donations. He started moaning and swaying around in distress. I had never seen anything like it before.
Another man walked past pushing a stroller with a young child, I was nervous for the child's safety.
The unsettled man then said "hello sweetie" with a sweet and sincere voice.
I felt ashamed that I had judged him negatively.
A lesson for me to not judge what I don't know.
Fragility
2022
Oil & charcoal on canvass (91.5cm x 112cm)
One day on my way to work, I saw a man. I had never seen someone so emaciated.
I nervously approached him to check if he was breathing. I saw his chest move up and down. He looked so thin, weak and vulnerable.
I wanted to help him but there was no one to call. He was just another 'homeless person'.
A sense of guilt grew inside of me. I was wearing designer clothes, I had money, good health.......
A good life.
Who knows what he had been through.
I walked away.... back to my life.
I hope this doesn't offend anyone.... It is just reality.
Wrong Side of the Glass
2022
Oil & charcoal on canvass (91.5cm x 121cm)
It was so cold outside that night.
It looked warm inside.
It must be torture to live on this side of the glass.